Seat cushion cover construction



Nov. 7, 1950 c. J. ENGSTROM 2,528,950

SEAT CUSHION COVER CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 13, 1945 q jtorney s N 1950 c. J. ENGSTROM 2,528,950

SEAT CUSHION COVER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Sept. 15, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiZZ/e72 for: ("arl Jfzys r0772 Nov. 7, 1950 c. J. ENGSTROM SEAT CUSHION COVER cousmucnou 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Sept. 13, 1945 Patented Nov. 7, 1950 SEAT CUSEION COVER CONSTRUCTION Carl 'Jflllngstrorn, Michigan City, Ind., assignor to Royal Metal Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application September "13, 1945, Serial No. 616,039. Divided and this application June 13, 1947, Serial No. 754,465

4 Claims. (0]..155-184) This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 616,039, filed September 13, 1945, on Furniture Construction.

This invention relates'to furniture constructionand, more particularly, the present inventionrelates to a stool and particularly to a revolving .stool such, for example, as a bar stool, although certain phases ofthe invention are also applicable to other articles of furniture including so-called counter or pedestal stools, store stools, kitchen stools and the like.

Bar stools and counter or pedestal stools heretofore made and used have been subject to a number of diificulties. Thus, the cushions of such bar stools have customarily been made with so-called Marshall springs and by reason of this fact, it has been necessary to extend the upholstery fabric all the Way down the sides of the seat cushion so as to enclose the springs. However, bar stools are subjected to hard usage and as the prior art bar stools were used, the springs sagged as a result of use, and the upholstery fabric would crease and eventually wear out. In order to replace the upholstery fabric on such prior art bar and like stools, it was necessary to replace completely the upholstery fabric on the entire seat cushion and this operation was relatively expensive from the standpoint of time and labor as well as material involved.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a novel seat construction embodied in a new stool.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in the new stool a novel seat construction embodying a seat cushion base which is covered with an upholstery fabric mounted thereon and which is subjected to relatively little wear in use, and a seat cushion detachably attached to the seat cushion base and so constructed that when the upholstery on the seat cushion becomes worn in use, it may readily be replaced without detaching the upholstery fabric from the seat cushion base.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction for fastening the upholstery fabric on the seat cushion and for enabling the upholstery fabric on the seat cushion to be removed and replaced as and when necessary.

Still another object of the invention is to proprovide a novel construction for detachably interconnecting the base of the seat cushion'an'd the seat cushion may readily be detached from the seat cushion base, the upholstery fabric'i'on the seat cushion replaced, and the thus reupholstered seat cushion then replaced in position of use upon the seat cushion base. A further object of the invention is to provid in the new stool a seat construction which may be embodied not only in stools of the revolving type, but also in stools of the non-revolving seat type.

Other objects of the present invention will be I apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the bestmode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principlesmay be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

Inthe drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a bar stool embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central sectional view showing the construction of the seat of the new stool and the construction of the novel anti-friction bearing assembly for rotatably mounting the seat upon the supporting frameor base of-the new stool, only a part of the supporting frame .orbase of the stool being shown;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the seat of the new stool, on line 3'3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view on line 44 in Fig. 2 showing the construction of the annular plate or pan which forms the bottom wall of the seat and by-means-of which the seat is attached to the anti-friction bearing assembly;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on line 5-5 in Fig. 2 illustrating the construction of the antifriction bearing assembly which is embodied in the new stool for rotatably mounting the seat thereof upon its supporting frame;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail view on line i-l in 5 illustrating the construction of the anti-friction bearing assembly for interconnecting the seat and the supporting frame of the new stool; this figure also illustrating the novel man- .nerin which -the--anti-friction bearing assembly (Fig. 2 and 7).

is connected to the supporting frame or base of the new stool;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the seat embodied in the new stool;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan View of the central portion of the top of the base of the stool, showing the crossed relationship of the legs thereof;

Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating a reinforcing member which is embodied in the seat of the new stool; and

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of an attaching member embodied in my device.

A typical and preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the form of a bar stool embodying a revolving seat, is illustrated in the drawings, wherein it is generally indicated at In, and comprises a supporting base or supporting frame, which is generally indicated at H, and a seat which is generally indicated at l2. The supporting base or frame H of the new stool comprises two pairs of tubular metal legs l3 and I5, respectively, which may be formed of suitable pieces of U-shaped metal interconnected at their upper end portions in the manner discussed in greater detail in my aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 616,039.

An'anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 23 which includes a plurality of balls 36 disposed in retainer plates 31 between upper and lower plates or raceways 32 and 35, respectively, Fig. 2 and 6, is mounted on the cross pieces l4 and I6 of the tubular legs i3 and I5, respectively, and is connected thereto by bolts 40 extending through openings 4| and 42 in the cross pieces M and I6 and threadedly engaged with T-nuts 38 mounted on the lower face of the lower raceway 35, as is discussed in greater detail in my aforementioned co-pending application, Serial No. 616,039.

The supporting base or frame H of the new bar stool is completed by an annular metal retaining member or bracing ring H! which encircles the tubular metal legs l3 and l and which may be secured thereto by means of suitable fastening elements such as belts or the like.

The seat I 2 of the new bar stool I0 is of the revolving type, being rotatably mounted upon and secured to the supporting base or frame I by means of the anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 2|), and comprises, in general, a seat cushion base 2| which is mounted on the antifriction bearing unit or assembly 20 and an upholstered seat cushion 22 which is detachably mounted on the seat cushion base 2| of the seat l2.

The seat cushion base 2| of the seat I2 includes a metallic frame member 23,.which is preferably formed of shaped steel, and which is preferably but not necessarily annular in form since it may be made in other shapes or forms, depending upon the shape desired in the seat of the new stool. The annular metallic frame member 23 of the seat '|2 has an inwardly extending horizontal annular flange 24 formed thereon at the bottom thereof and said annular frame member 23 also has an inwardly extending annular horizontal flang 25 formed thereon at the upper end thereof The outer surface of the vertical sidewall of the annular metallic frame member 23 of the seat cushion base 2| and the outer surfaces of the top and bottom flanges 25 and 24 on the member 23 are covered by a piece of suitable upholstery fabric 26 which may be secured to the annular frame member 23 of the seat cushion base 2| in any suitable manner. Thus th upholstery fabric 26 may be sewed into the form 91 a ring or other proper shape necessary to fit the member 23 with a portion 25;; of the fabric covering 25 extending under the lower flange 2d of the member 23 and with a portion 25b of the fabric covering 26 extending over the upper flange 25 of the member 23. When the fabric covering 2626a26b is then drawn tight or taut to member 23, it is held in that position by the clamping engagement of the upturned marginal edge 29a of the bottom wall or pan 29 of the seat against the lower edge portion 26a of the fabric covering 26 and by the clamping engagement of the annular ring 45 of the seat cushion upon the upper edge portion 26b of the fabric covering 26, as

will be described more fully hereinafter.

A plurality of fiat steel reinforcing members 59 are welded to the metallic frame or ring 23 of the seat cushion base 2| on the inner side of said annular member 23. Each of these reinforcing members 59 has a horizontally extending arm 58 at its lower end and each reinforcing member 59 has a laterally extending arm 60 at its upper end. Each of the lower arms 58 is provided with an oblong broached opening or slot 51 for the reception of a fastening bolt 56 (Fig. 3) and each 'of the upper arms 30 is provided with an oblong opening or slot 12 for the reception of a fastening bolt 5|, for reasons which will be described more fully hereinafter.

The seat cushion base 2| of the seat l2 embodies a steel bottom plate or pan 29 which is attached to the annular member 23 of the seat base 2| and to the anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 28 in a manner which will be described presently. As shown in Fig. 4, this bottom plate or pan 29 is provided with a radially arranged series of depressed reinforcing ribs 30 which are formed integrally therein and which extend radially outwardly from a depressed annular center portion or reinforcing ring 3| also formed integrally in the bottom plate 29 (Figs. 4 and 6).

The depressed central portion 3| of the bottom wall or pan 29 of the seat 2| is attached in any suitable manner, asby spot welding, to the upper plate or raceway 32 of the anti-friction bearing unit 29.

The lower raceway plate 35 in the anti-friction bearing assembly or unit 23 is provided with an annular row of radially arranged openings 39 and each of the ball retainer plates or discs 3? is provided with a similar annular row of radially arranged openings 58, the openings 38 and 39 being disposed in alignment or registry with each other to enable a welding tool or electrode to be inserted therethrough so as to spot weld the uppermost raceway plate 32 to the depressed central portion 3| of the bottom pan or plate 253 of the seat l2.

In order to attach the base plate or bottom pan 29 of the seat I2 to the annular member which is embodied in the seatrl2, countersunk or depressed bolt holes 55 .are formed in the bottom plate or pan 29 and bolts 56 are extended upwardly through these openings or holes in the pan 29 and through the broached oblong holes or openings 5'! which are formed in the lower arms 58 of the combination reinforcing and attaching members 59. It will be understood, in this connection, that each of the bolts has threaded engagement with the wall defining the broached oblong opening 57 through which it is extended. The upper end portion of each of the bolts 6| is screwed into a threaded opening it formed in a raised boss provided on the lower arm 32 of an l .,-shaped attaching member or'lug as; secured in;any suitablesmanner; asby welding,

toannular-v metalv memberor ringi t which .is. embodiedinand forms the frame of thecushion unit 22 ofthe seat 12.. a

As shown in Figs. 2 and -'7, the upper and lower arms BE and .58, respectively, ofthemembers '59 are offset laterally from each otherso thatthe: main extent-of each=member; 59. extends at an acute angle totheverticalrelative to andacross.v the inner surface; of the annular'nietal frame 23. of the seat cushion base 2! of theseat 52 to. which the members 59 -are welded. Hence the members function as attaching members, cooperating with the bolts 56' to fasten thepan-orbottoin plate Zfiof the seatto. the lower-- flange 2d-of the annular framemember- 23, andcooperating with the bolts E I and the attaching; lugs 53-62 to attach the seat cushion unit -22-to the annular frame member 230i the seat cushion base 24 of the seat l2. It will like-wise be noted thatthe members 59 also function to reinforce. vertical side wall of the annular frame member 23 of the seat-cushion base 2'! of the seat against-'= frame member 44 and an upholstered cushion 48- is mounted on the annular metal frame me nber 44. The upholstered cushion Qt includes a casing composed of an upper layer 47, which may be composed of any; suitable upholstery fabric, a lower fabric layer 3'8 of burlap or other suitable fabric, and amass or body of suitable resilient cushion-stufilng or cushion-forming cotton or other suitablecushion-forming material The cushion unit 22 of the seat I2 also embodies aplurality of fiat sinuous metal wire springs 55! upon which the burlap or-likefabric sheetf iiir-of theiseat cushion lpis laid. The end portions 5 through tubular metal'sleeves- 5'2"which may be made separate from and'secured in any-suitable manner, as by soldering,- to the annularw metal frame l l of the seat. cushion unit122, on the inner side of said member: A l. If desired; however, the tubular members fail-may be formedin tegrally with the metal frame member 4 3 of Zthe seat cushion unit 22.

the seatcushion unit ifiis extended under the woodeninsert or ring 4'5 and isrsecuredthereto. in any suitable manner as by tacking the said in-- wardly extended marginaledge portion of the upholstery fabric 4'! of the seat cushion unit 22 to thewooden ring. 4.5:on the bottom side there-- of. (Figs. 2 and '7).

tl of the seat cushionunit22; as. will-be described hereinafter. The fabric 65,- which en-. closesv the welt 6'4, lies betweenthecupper marginal edge 26b of'theupholstery covering. on the; upper flange. of the. annularmetal. frame. member. 23 and. the ,inturned.marginal.- edges; of...

These attaching membersror lugs. 63.. are.

of these springs 5dare inserted To complete the seat cushion unit 22 of. the seat I2, the lowermarginal. edge portion 530i theupholster fabric 4-2 of th upholstery, fabric 41 on..the. seat cushion...

unit 22.

The various .partsonunits ofthe .new .barstool may, be assembled. and interconnected substantially as follows: t

The baseeflanges38 of the. T-nuts39. maybe weldedor otherwise'fastenedto the lower race.- way plate 35. on the bottomside thereof. anti-friction bearing assembly or. unit.20 may then .beassembled by arranging the two ball retainer. plates .or discs 35, with the anti-friction.

elements or balls 36 disposedtherein, between the upper and-lowerraceway plates 32 and 35,.

respectively, and then securingv the plates32.and

35,.together; as discussed ingreater detail in my. aforementioned, co-pending. application, Serial:

No. 616,039.v

The anti-frictionbearing assembly or unit 23 may then be mounted upon the supporting base. or. framev Hby arrangingthe flattened portion ll of each of the. cross pieces i4 and I6 ofthe tubular legs [3 and i5, respectively, in nested relationship with the recessed. portion of. the other cross piece, as in. Fig. 2, and with the. threadedstems or shanks of the T-nuts 39. pro-- jecting downwardlythrough the holes 42. in the cross-pieces Wand l6 of the tubular metal legs to the..tubular metalsupportingframe. ll of the new. stool while,.at the same time, the tubular metal legs I3 and I5. andthe cross pieces l4 and I6, respectively,.thereof are firmly secured to-' gether.

Thebaseplate or bottom pan.29-o f:the seat [2 may then be attached to the-anti-fr iction bearing. assembly or unitv2fi by arranging the central. depressed portion 3I- of the base plater or. pan. 29 over theuppersurface of-the upper raceway plate 32 of the anti-friction bearing assembly 2llland then spot welding the upper raceway plate 32 of the anti-friction bearing assembly 20 to the base plate or bottom pan 29 of the seat [2. This may be accomplished by inserting a welding electrode through the registered openings..69. and 68 in the lower raceway plate 35 and inv the ball retainer. discs 3?, respectively.

The combination reinforcing and attaching members 59 may; be. attached to the annular member 23-by the seat-base2l, and on the inner surface of said-annular member 23, by welding the members 59 to the member 23.

Theupholstery fabric covering 26.26a26b may then be slipped. over the. annular metal frame member .23 of theseat cushion base 2|; on the outer side. of said member 23 with the portion 26b ofthe said'upholstery fabric covering 26.eX--

tended over the uppersurface of the upper flange 25 of the member 23-and with the lower portion 26a.of the upholstery fabric covering. 26 extended;

The

The tubular metal sleeve.- 52,.,withrthe.endportions. 5.l. of. the springs 5.0,

estended therethrough, may then be weldedor soldered or otherwise suitably attached to the annular channel-shaped frame of theiseat cushion unit 22 and on the inner surface of said member 44.

The wooden filler and upholstery anchor ring 45 may then be inserted into the channel-shaped annular frame member 44 of the seat cushion unit 22, whereupon the burlap sheet 48 may be laid over the springs 59, the resilient cushionforming material 49 laid on the burlap sheet 43, and theupholstery fabric 4'! laid thereover. The marginal edge portion of the upholstery fabric cover 41 of the seat cushion unit 22 may then be extendedunder the bottom edge of the wooden insert 45 and secured to the latter in any suitable manner as by means of upholstery tacks inserted through the inturned marginal edge portion of the upholstery fabric covering 41 of the cushion casing into the said combination wooden filler and upholstery anchor ring 45.

The annular fabric cover 65 for the orna- 1 mental upholstery welt 64 may then be laid over the upper marginal edge portion 26b of the upholstery cover 23 on the upper flange 25 of the annular member 23 of the seat cushion base 2| whereupon the assembled seat cushion unit 22 may then be laid upon the fabric cover 65 of the welt 64. The seat cushion unit 22 of the seat I2 and the base 2| of the seat I2 may then be assembled by inserting the bolts 5| into position of use, this being accomplished by inserting the bolts 5| through the oblong slots or holes 12 in the upper arms 60 of the'reinforcing members 59 and through the threaded openings III in the lower arms 62 of the anchoring legs 53 which are welded to the annular channel-shaped metal frame 44 of the seat cushion unit 22. This operation of inserting the bolts 6| in position of use is performed prior to the time the bottom' plate or pain 29 of the seat I2 is attached'in position of use. y

Hence, it will be seen that the last operation involved in assembling the new stool is to mount the assembled seat cushion unit 22 of the base 2| of the seat I2 upon the base plate or bottom pan 29 of the seat I2, it being understood that the depressed central portion 3| of the base plate or bottom 29 of the seat base 2| has previously been spot welded to the upper raceway plate 32 of the anti-friction bearing unit or assembly 2|). This final operation of attaching the base plate or bottom pan 29 of the seat to the assembled seat cushion 22 and seat base 2| is accomplished by inserting the bolts 56 through the openings 55 in the base plate or bottom pan 29 and through the broached oblong openings 57 in the arms 58 of the members 59.

It will be noted, in this connection, that the broached oblong openings or holes 51 in the lower arms 58 of the reinforcing members 59 and the oblong openings I2 in the upper arms 60 of the reinforcing members 59 enable the annular frame member 23 of the seat base 2| to be turned and adjusted slightly circumferentially relative to the seat cushion unit 22 and relative to the bottom plate or pan 29 of the seat I2 and the anti-friction bearing assembly 20 and supporting base or frame II of the new stool.

When the seat I2 and the supporting frame or base I I of the new stool are assembled and interconnected by the anti-friction bearing or assembly unit 29, the seat I2 is free to rotate or revolve readily upon the anti-friction bearing unit 29 orassembly relative to the supporting base frame II so that when the new stool is subjected to the shocks and stresses and strains to which bar and counter stools and the like are subjected in use, as when rocked or tipped over or otherwise roughl handled, the interconnection thus afforded between the seat I2 and the supporting base II effectively resists separation of the seat I2 from the supporting base II or loosening of the seat I 2 upon the supporting base I I and thus overcomes one of the difiiculties experienced heretofore in the use of prior art bar stools. This arrangement likewise eliminates the concentration of the stresses and strains to which such stools are subjected upon a single interconnecting stem or casting'between the seat of the stool and its supporting base as in the prior art and spreads such stresses and strains over a relatively wide area.

It will also be noted that since the upholstery fabric cover 25 on the annular metal frame member or ring 23 is secured thereto in close fitting relationship by the combined clamping action of the upturned marginal edge 29a of the bottom plate 29 on the lower marginal edge portion 26a of the upholstery cover 26 and by the clamping action of the seat cushion unit 22 and the upper marginal edge portion 26b of the upholstery fabric covering 25. Hence there is little, if any, tendency for the upholstery fabric covering 25 on the annular metal frame 23 of the seat cushion base 2| to flex or wrinkle and become loose or worn and, as a result, the upholstery fabric cover 26 requires practically no replacement, and unless cut or otherwise intentionally marred or damaged, will last throughout the life of the new stool itself.

Thus, it will be seen that the only part of the upholstery fabric on the new stool which is subjected to wear and may require replacement is the upholstery fabric cover 47 which is embodied in the seat cushion 46 of the seat I2. Such repair or replacement of the upholstery fabric cover 41 of the seat cushion 46 may readily be effected by detaching the seat I2 of the new bar stool from its supporting base II. This may readily be accomplished by removing the bolts 56 so as to detach the seat I2 from its supporting base II and then detaching the seat cushion unit 22 from the base 2| of the seat I2 by removing the bolts 6|. The lower and inner marginal edge portion 54 of the upholstery fabric cover 41 of the seat cushion unit 46 may then be detached from the seat cushion frame 44-45 by removing the upholstery tacks from the wooden ring 45, whereupon the upholstery fabric 41 of the seat cushion unit 22 may be repaired or replaced and the parts of the new stool reassembled in the manner hereinbefore explained.

As will readil be apparent to persons skilled in the art, the construction of the seat cushion base 2| and of the seat cushion unit 22 may be embodied in stools including bar stools, kitchen stools and counterstools and the like which are of the non-revolving seat type, and in such instances the anti-friction bearing assembly 29 could be eliminated without departing from the scope and purview of the present invention.

It will thus be seen that the new bar stool embodies a novel seat embodying a permanently upholstered seat cushion base and an upholstered seat cushionremovably mounted thereon and so constructed and arranged that the upholstery and springs of the seat cushion unit may be readily replaced or repaired without necessitating replacement or repair of the upholstery covering on the entire body of the seat itself, as has been necessary heretofore in bar stools and other stools.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved article of furniture in the form of a stool having the desirable advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as applied to a bar stool, it is contemplated that at least certain phases of the invention may take other forms and may be used in other articles of furniture including counter or so-called pedestal stools, display tables, store stools, and the like.

I claim:

1. A stool comprisin a supporting base, a seat frame member including an upstanding side wall and an upholstery covering mounted in predetermined position on the outer surface of said side wall and extending over the top and bottom of said frame member and in engagement therewith, a base plate mounted on said supporting base and disposed below said seat frame member in engagement with said upholstery covering, a seat cushion unit mounted on top of said seat frame member in engagement with said upholstery covering, and means releasably securing said seat frame member, said base plate, and said seat cushion unit together in clamping engagement with said upholstery covering to thereby hold the latter in said predetermined position on said side wall.

2. In a stool of the type embodying an upright elongated supporting base, a seat mounted on the upper end of said base, said seat comprising a base plate mounted on said upper end of said supporting base, a seat frame member including a vertically extending side wall and an upholstery cover mounted on the outer surface of the latter, a seat cushion unit including a supporting frame, and a seat cushion mounted on and supported by said supporting frame, said seat cushion includin a second upholstery cover having a marginal edge portion disposed below said supporting frame, said seat frame member being disposed between said seat cushion unit and said base plate for supporting said seat cushion unit on the latter, and means releasably securing said base plate, said seat frame member, and said supporting frame together in clamping engagement with said first mentioned upholstery cover and said second upholstery cover to thereby hold said covers on said side wall and seat cushion.

3. A stool comprising a supporting base, a seat cushion unit comprising a horizontally disposed supportin frame including a, plurality of clip members disposed in horizontally spaced relation to each other, a plurality of springs connected to and extending between said clip members, and a cushion member mounted on and supported by said springs, said cushion member including padding means mounted on said springs, and a sheet of upholstery material extending across the top of said padding means in predetermined position thereon and having a marginal edge portion extending across a portion of the bottom of said supporting frame, means for supporting said seat cushion unit on said supporting base, and means including said supporting frame for releasably securing said last named means and said seat cushion unit together in clamping engagement with said marginal edge portion of said sheet of upholstery material to thereby hold said sheet in said predetermined position on said padding means.

4. In a stool of the type embodying an elongated supporting base disposed in upright position, a base plate mounted on the upper end of said supporting base in substantially horizontal position, a supporting frame comprising a continuous side wall disposed in upright position, a plurality of brackets mounted on and projecting inwardly from said side wall, and a continuous sheet of upholstery material mounted on the outer surface of said side wall and having marginal edge portions extending horizontally across portions of the top and bottom of said side wall, said supporting frame being disposed on said base plate with said marginal edge portion of said sheet which extends across said bottom of said side wall resting on outer edge portions of said base plate, a seat-top unit mounted on the top of said supporting frame and resting on said marginal edge portion of said sheet which extends across said top of said side wall, and means including said brackets clamping said base plate, said supporting frame, and said seat-top unit together in clamping engagement with said marginal edge portions of said sheet of upholstery material to hold said sheet of upholstery material on said outer surface of said side wall.

CARL J. ENGSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

